Internalized Oppression : The Psychology of Marginalized Groups

The oppression of various groups has taken place throughout human history. People are stereotyped, discriminated against and treated unjustly simply because of their social group membership. But what does it look like when the oppression that people face from the outside gets under their skin? Long overdue, this is the first book to highlight the universality of internalised oppression across marginalised groups in the United States from a mental health perspective. It focuses on the psychological manifestations and mental health implications of internalised oppression for a variety of groups. The book provides insight into the ways in which internalised oppression influences the thoughts, attitudes, feelings and behaviours of the oppressed toward themselves, other members of their group and members of the dominant group. It also considers promising clinical and community programmes that are currently addressing internalised oppression among specific groups. The book describes the implications and unique manifestations of internalised oppression among African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, American Indians and Alaska natives, women, people with disabilities and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. For each group, the text considers its demographic profile, history of oppression, contemporary oppression, common manifestations and mental and behavioural health implications, clinical and community programmes and future directions. Chapters are written by leading and emerging scholars, who share their personal experiences to provide a real-world point of view. Additionally, each chapter is coauthored by a member of a particular community group, who helps to bring academic concepts to life.